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War
Memorials Elsewhere, - Epsom College |
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The First and Second World War Memorial for Epsom College
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Photo : Clive Gilbert of the War
Memorials On Line website
Epsom College is a co-educational Independent school on Epsom
Downs, Surrey, England, for pupils aged 11 to 18. Founded in 1853 as a boys'
school to provide support for poor members of the medical profession such
as pensioners and orphans ("Foundationers").
The College campus is on the outskirts of Epsom, near Epsom Downs on the North
Downs and near the racecourse (home to the annual Epsom Derby). The College
buildings date from 1853 and are mostly influenced by the Gothic revival architecture.
In 1974, the main building and the College Chapel attained Grade II listed
status.
The Chapel within the grounds of Epsom College houses memorials to past pupils of the school killed serving their country. The Great War Memorial commemorates the names of 146 men and was unveiled on 21 February 1925 by the Bishop of Winchester.
In addition to the main War Memorial in the Chapel there are several other memorials within the college that duplicate the names on the main memorial. The college was divided into 'Houses' and each 'House' had its own memorial.
2 soldiers who served in the Yorkshire Regiment are amongst the names commemorated on the College's First World War Memorial. 1 soldier is also on the Wilson House War Memorial.
Lieutenant Colonel James Albert Raymond Thomson,
D S O. 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Croix de Guerre (France). Son
of James and Eliza Thomson; husband of Ethel Norah Mayson Thomson, of The
Uplands, Malton, Yorks. Born at Huddersfield. Killed 27 May 1918. Aged 42.
Buried VENDRESSE BRITISH CEMETERY.
The following comments are from Robert Coulson's Biographies
of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
"James Thomson was born in Huddersfield in 1876 and was a pre-war Territorial
officer with the 5th Battalion.
He took the Yorkshires first prisoners of war at Hull in 1914 whilst in charge
of interned German shipping.
Captain Thomson sailed with the battalion from Southampton landing at Le Havre
on April 16th 1915.
He saw action at St Julien and Hooge during the second Ypres battle and was
wounded in action close to Dickebusche on December 19th 1915.
During the “Operations at the Bluff” in February of 1916 he was
wounded again but was back with the battalion in September during the Somme
offensive.
By now promoted, Major Thomson fought at the Battle of Arras in April 1917
and on July 10th assumed command of the battalion at Cherisy when Lt Col Pearce
was wounded.
The battalion fought rearguard actions during the German spring offensive
in March 1918 and on the 25th of the month the GOC 24th Brigade sent for the
newly promoted Lt Col Thomson to thank him for the efforts made by the officers
and men of the battalion during the German onslaught.
On April 25th 1918 Lt Col Thomson and the battalion were moved to what was
considered to be a “quiet area” on the Chemin des Dames ridge.
On May 27th with the Yorkshires on the Craonne Plateau the Germans launched
a “totally unexpected attack” on the British line.
By 6-00am Lt Col Thomson’s last report was received, “HQ company
fighting about the command post and appear to be surrounded”.
Lt Col James Albert Raymond Thomson DSO was killed in this action on May 27th
1918 at the age of 42.
His grave today can be seen in Vendresse British Cemetery on the Aisne ten
miles south of Laon.
James Thomson was the son of James and Eliza Thomson and the husband of Ethel
Thomson of “The Uplands”, Malton in North Yorkshire.
His name is remembered on the Sledmere Cross close to the home of his former
commanding officer, Sir Mark Sykes and also on Malton War Memorial."
Private Louis Turgis Tracy, 4700. 1st/4th Battalion
Seaforth Highlanders. Son of Louis and Amy Tracy, of Whitby, Yorks. Joined
5th Battalion. Yorkshire Regt., 8th Sept., 1914. Died 3 June 1916. Aged 21.
Buried LOUEZ MILITARY CEMETERY, DUISANS.
Remarks;-
On Private Tracy's CWGC headstone is inscribed "BORN BRIGHTON FEB. 11TH
1895 JOINED YORKSHIRE REGIMENT SEPT. 8TH 1914."
Louis Tracy started his military service as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Yorkshire
Regiment's 5th Battalion (qualifying for the 1914 Star). He was posted to
France on 17 July 1915 in a group of Officers sent out as reinforcements,
arriving near Armentieres. However, on 5 December 1915 he is reported in the
London Gazette as having resigned his commission. At this stage, no reason
for this is known, but it is possible that this resulted from some incident
when serving with the batallion at Armentieres (the battalion was in billets
there until 12 November).
At this stage, the only other facts known as regards Louis Turgis Tracy are
that 1) he was a boarder at Epsom Collage, and 2) he was a student at Hertford
College, University of Oxford.
His father, Louis Tracy, seems to have led a fairly complicated life. He had
served with the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment at some
point in the late 19th Century, and was a prolific writer of fiction.
The
Wilson House War Memorial for Epsom College which includes the name of L T
Tracy (though name spelled "Tracey")
Select the above image for a larger one which opens in a new window
Photo : Clive Gilbert of the War
Memorials On Line website
The
Chapel for Epsom College
Photo : Clive Gilbert of the War
Memorials On Line website
Epsom
College
Photo from the Epsom
College website
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